Carcass hide opening

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for opening a carcass hide preparatory to removal of the hide (20) from the carcass (26). The apparatus includes a clearing blade (11) with a leading cutting edge (16) which is inserted between the hide (20) and subcutaneous tissues (21) and is advanced along the carcass (26) to separate the hide (20). An opening blade (31) trails behind the clearing blade (11) and creates an opening cut along the hide. The hide edges (22, 23) peel up and outwardly and can be clamped. A drive arrangement (50) includes a mounting (51) for the clearing blade (11) and the opening blade (30) and drive means (52) to advance the mounting (51) along a track (56) located adjacent to the carcass (26). Rump lifting means (65) elevates the carcass rump to the desired height for starting the hide opening at the cleared opening (61) at the anus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the opening of the hide of a carcass duringcarcass processing operations preparatory to removal of the hide.

The presently widely used method of opening the hide of a carcass suchas a beef carcass is substantially a manual operation. The beef carcassis hung from overhead supports by the rear legs. In this position, thehide is opened up manually by slaughtermen. The carcass hide is then cutaway from the rear legs, belly and brisket in a manner suitable to thetype of hide puller being used on the processing line. The labourinvolved in this operation adds substantially to the total cost ofprocessing the carcass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus foropening a carcass hide and which is susceptible to at least partialmechanisation, and preferably enabling automation of the process ofopening the hide.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus foropening a carcass hide preparatory to removal of the hide from thecarcass, characterised in that the apparatus includes a clearing memberwhich is operable to be inserted between the hide and subcutaneoustissues and to be advanced along an advancement line extending along alength of the carcass, the clearing member having a leading extremityextending transverse to the advancement line and which is operative toseparate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues as it advances, theapparatus further including an opening means located so as to trailbehind the leading extremity of the clearing member as the clearingmember is advanced along the advancement line, the opening means beingoperative to cut the hide to create an opening cut in the hide along theadvancement line, the apparatus further including a drive arrangementassociated with the clearing member and the opening means and operativeto advance the clearing member and opening means along the carcass toseparate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues and to create theopening cut in the hide along the advancement line.

Preferably the leading extremity of the clearing member extends in usegenerally parallel to the outside surface of the hide so as to promoteseparation of the hide from the subcutaneous tissues at the boundarybetween the hide and the tissues. The leading extremity of the clearingmember preferably tapers in a forward direction relative to theadvancement line and towards a nose portion of the leading extremity.The nose portion is preferably rounded in plan view to minimise the riskof the nose portion penetrating into the subcutaneous tissues orpenetrating into the hide.

Preferably the leading extremity of the clearing member comprises acutting edge operative to sever connections between the hide and thesubcutaneous tissues. The leading extremity of the clearing member maybe bevelled from an inner face of the clearing member which is adjacentto the subcutaneous tissues to the cutting edge located at or slightlybelow an outer face of the clearing member which is adjacent to thehide.

In the preferred embodiment the clearing member comprises a clearingblade and the leading extremity comprises a leading edge of the clearingblade which extends transverse to the advancement line and whichpenetrates the boundary between the hide and subcutaneous tissues so asto separate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues as the clearing bladeadvances.

Also in the preferred embodiment the opening means comprises an openingblade having a cutting edge operative to cut the hide to create theopening cut in the hide along the advancement line. The cutting edge ofthe opening blade may extend outwardly from the clearing member and maybe located rearwardly of the leading extremity of the clearing member sothat as the clearing member and the opening blade advance and theclearing member separates the hide from subcutaneous tissues, thecutting edge of the opening blade cuts the hide to open it along theadvancement line. Preferably the cutting edge of the opening bladeextends outwardly in a plane at right angles to the general plane of theclearing member and its leading extremity thereof, the cutting edge ofthe opening blade being inclined rearwardly relative to the advancementline.

The apparatus may further include peeling means operative to peel thehide on both sides of the cut line upwardly and outwardly away from theopening cut thereby exposing the subcutaneous tissues, the peeling meanscomprising peeling guides located rearwardly of the cutting edge of theopening blade, the peeling guides flaring upwardly and outwardly awayfrom the clearing member so as to thereby cause the edges of the hideimmediately behind the opening cut to peel upwardly and outwardly. In analternative (or in addition), the opening blade may be wedge shaped incross section with the point of the wedge shape constituting the cuttingedge, the wedge shape of the opening blade causing the edges of the hideimmediately behind the cut to be forced apart as the opening bladeadvances.

The drive arrangement may include a mounting which mounts the clearingmember and the opening means, the drive arrangement further including aguide which is arranged to be located in the vicinity of the carcass anddrive means for driving the mounting along the guide so as to cause theclearing member and opening means to travel along the length of carcass.The guide may comprise a guide track, the mounting including a trackfollower operative to travel along the track so that the track followerin use moves generally along the advancement line in proximity to thecarcass. Preferably the mounting enables the clearing member and openingmeans to move towards and away from the guide track as movement alongthe advancement line occurs so as to thereby assist the clearing memberand opening means to follow the contour of the carcass. The mounting mayinclude biasing means operative to apply a biasing force urging theclearing member and opening means away from the carcass and towards theguide track thereby assisting in separating the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues as the clearing member advances.

Preferably the apparatus is operative to cut the hide of a carcasssupported in an inverted position with the belly of the carcass facingupwardly, the carcass having undergone a operation of bagging andbunging the anus so as to leave a cleared opening in the hide, theapparatus being operative to commence the hide clearing and cutting atthe cleared opening at the anus with the advancement line extendingalong the belly, thorax and neck of the carcass, the apparatuspreferably further including rump lifting means operative to selectivelyelevate the rump of the carcass so as to present the cleared opening atthe anus at the desired height for entry of the clearing member throughthe cleared opening at the anus.

The apparatus may include clamping means operative to clamp the edges ofthe hide behind the opening means relative to the advancement line andto hold the hide edges away from the subcutaneous tissues as theclearing member and opening means advance, the clamping means beingoperative to clamp progressively the hide edges at points along the hideedges as the clearing member and opening means are advanced.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now bedescribed with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in andescribed with reference to the drawings are not to be construed aslimiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a clearing blade and opening bladeusable in the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows the commencement of operation of an apparatus according tothe invention showing the hide being peeled outwardly and clamped,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a beef carcass and an apparatus according tothe present invention located in operative association to the carcass,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a support for a carcass incorporatingrump lifting means,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the carcass rump lifted, and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an alternative form of a clearingblade and opening blade and mounting to what is shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus includes aclearing member 10 in the form of a flat generally V shaped blade 11.The clearing member 10 has a leading extremety 12 in the form of asharpened leading edge 13. In use, the blade 11 and its leading edge 13are generally parallel to the outside surface of the hide 20 so as topromote separation of the hide 20 from the subcutaneous tissues 21.

The leading edge 13 tapers towards a nose portion 15 which is rounded tominimise the risk of the nose 15 penetrating either subcutaneous tissuesor hide. The edge 13 comprises a cutting edge 16 to sever connectionsbetween the hide 20 and subcutaneous tissues 21. The cutting edge 16 isdefined between the bevel 17 extending from the inner face 11a which isadjacent to the subcutaneous tissues 21 in use and the slight bevel 18at the outer face 11b of blade 11 which is adjacent to the hide 20.

The apparatus includes an opening means 30 in the form of an openingblade 31 which trails behind the leading cutting edge 16 as the clearingblade 11 is advanced along the advancement line 25. The blade 31 cutsthe hide 20 to create an opening cut in the hide along the advancementline 25. The opening blade 31 has an edge 32 which extends outwardlyfrom the plane of the clearing blade 11 so that as the clearing andopening blades 11, 31 advance and the clearing blade 11 separates thehide 20 from subcutaneous tissues 21, the blade edge 32 cuts the hide.The blade 31 extends in a plane generally at right angles to the planeof the clearing blade 11 and the blade edge 32 is inclined rearwardlyrelative to advancement line 25, e.g. at about 45°.

The apparatus in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes peeling means 40 arranged topeel the hide 20 away from the cut line so as to expose the subcutaneoustissues 21. The peeling means 40 comprises upwardly and outwardly curvedguides 41, 42 on opposite sides of the opening blade 31 and thesefunction to turn the edges 22, 23 of the hide upwardly and outwardlyaway from the sterile meat surface as the hide 20 is being opened.

The apparatus includes a drive arrangement 50 (FIG. 3) operative toadvance the clearing and opening blades 11, 31 along the carcass 26. Thedrive arrangement 50 includes a mounting 51 which mounts the clearingand opening blades 11, 31. The mounting is movable by drive means 52,shown schematically in FIG. 3 as a winch 53 and cable 54 extending tothe mounting 51. The mounting is drivable along a guide 55 located inuse in the vicinity of the carcass 26. The guide 55 comprises a guidetrack 56 with the mounting 51 including a track follower 57 arranged totravel along the track 56.

The mounting 51 is arranged to enable the clearing and opening blades11, 31 to move relative to the guide track 56 as advancing movementoccurs so as to enable the blades 11, 31 to generally follow the contourof the carcass 26. In FIG. 1, the mounting 51 comprises a telescopicallyextendable connection 58 between the track follower 57 and the blades11, 31 so that the blades are movable towards and away from the trackfollower 57 as it advances along the guide track 56. Biasing means 59applies a biasing force either to urge the blades 11, 31 away from thecarcess 26 and towards the track 56 to assist in pulling of the hide 20away from the subcutaneous tissues 21 or, if desired, towards thecarcass 26 to locate the blades 11, 31.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the carcass 26 is in use preferablysupported by a support cradle 60 so that the carcass 26 is in aninverted position with the belly of the carcass facing upwardly.Preferably the carcass 26 has undergone an operation of bagging andbunging the anus so as to leave a cleared opening 61 in the hide 20 andthe hide clearing and cutting operation commences at the cleared opening61 with the advancement line 25 extending along the belly, thorax andneck of the carcass 26. In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown rump liftingmeans 65 shown as pivoted rump support arms 66 which initially are in alowered position within the support cradle 60 (FIG. 4). To position thecarcass ready for commencement of the hide opening operation, the ram 67can be selectively operated to elevate the rump of the carcass 26 so asto present the cleared opening 61 at the predetermined desired heightfor initial entry of the nose 15 of the clearing blade 11.

In FIG. 2 there is also illustrated schematically clamping means 70operative to clamp the edges 22, 23 of the hide behind the opening blade31 and to hold the hide edges 22, 23 away from the subcutaneous tissues21 as the clearing and opening blades 11, 31 advance. If desired, theclamping means 70 may be provided along the length of the carcass toprogressively clamp the hide edges 22, 23 at successive points as theclearing and opening blades 11, 31 are advanced. The clamping means 70are illustrated as comprising selectively operated clamping jaws 71which can be initially open and have associated sensors (not shown)which determine when the hide edges 22, 23 being peeled away from thecarcass enter into the space between the open jaws 71 thereby enablingactuation and closing of the jaws 71 to clamp the hide edges.

In FIG. 6 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the clearing blade11 and opening blade 31 and associated mount 51. In this arrangement,the opening blade 31 is wedge shaped in plan view so that the thicknessor width of the blade 31 at its trailing end 37 is substantially greaterthan towards the blade edge 32. This wedge shaped opening blade 31promotes peeling of the hide edges upwardly and outwardly without theneed for the peeling guides 41, 42 provided in FIG. 1.

Also in FIG. 6, the mounting 51 is shown as a pivoted mounting with oneportion 80 being rigidly secured to the blades 11, 31, the other portion81 being secured to the track follower 57 (not shown in FIG. 6). Theparts 80, 81 are pivotally movable about a transverse axis 82 and thebiasing means 59 biases the nose portion of the blade 11 downwardly.This limited pivoting movement enables the blade 11 to contour up overthe rump and into the cleared opening 61 to commence the hide openingoperation. After initial location and commencement of the hide openingoperation, the pivoting movement of the parts 80, 81 may be prevented byselectively operating locking means.

In operation, the carcass after stunning, sticking, horn removal andhock removal, is inverted onto its back and supported in a bed dressingcradle. The carcass can be conveyed by the bed dressing cradle throughvarious stages in which the hide is to be removed. With the carcasspositioned generally as shown in FIG. 3 so that the guide is positionedcentrally over the belly of the inverted carcass, the guide may beadjusted so as to be at approximately equal distances above the carcassat both the head and tail ends.

The blades may then be advanced so as to enter under the hide at therear of the carcass, preferably at the bunged anus which has beenprepared and sealed ready for opening of the hide along the longitudinalline of the belly. The drive arrangement then powers the blades alongthe guide track from the rear of the carcass to the neck. The clearingblade lifts the hide and at the same time cuts hide away from thesubcutaneous tissues.

The shape of the nose of the clearing blade and the bevelled edge on theclearing blade minimises the risk of damage to the hide or to thesubcutaneous tissues. That is, the clearing blade does not tend to cuttoo deeply into subcutaneous tissues thus losing valuable meat cutswhich would otherwise remain attached to the hide and also does not cutinto the hide from the under surface thereby damaging the hide and/orleaving portions of hide attached to the subcutaneous tissue to berecovered as saleable meat.

As the apparatus opens the hide and clears a strip of hide, the peelingmeans folds back the edges of the hide away from the sterile meatsurface enabling access to the peeled back hide edges for clamping andfurther processing, particularly hide pulling.

The arrangement of the guide track assists maintenance of a degree oftension away from the carcass between the clearing blade and the hide.

It will be seen that the apparatus as particularly described herein andas illustrated enables mechanised and at least partially automatedopening of the hide of a carcass. The subcutaneous tissues can bemaintained sterile by peeling back the hide edges. This also makes thehide edges available for clamping by means involved in pulling the hidefrom the carcass at the next state of carcass processing.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/oradditions may be made to the features of the possible and preferredembodiment(s) of the invention as herein described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for opening a carcass hide preparatory to removalof the hide from the carcass, the apparatus includes a clearing memberwhich is operable to be inserted between the hide and subcutaneoustissues and to be advanced along an advancement line extending along alength of the carcass, the clearing member having a leading extremityextending transverse to the advancement line and which is operative toseparate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues as it advances, theapparatus further including an opening means located so as to trailbehind the leading extremity of the clearing member as the clearingmember is advanced along the advancement line, the opening means beingoperative to cut the hide to create an opening cut in the hide along theadvancement line, the apparatus further including clamping meansoperative to clamp the edges of the hide behind the opening meansrelative to the advancement line and to hold the hide edges, theapparatus further including a mechanical drive arrangement associatedwith the clearing member and the opening means and operative to advancethe clearing member and opening means along the carcass away from theclamping means so that the clearing member separates the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues and the opening means creates the opening cut inthe hide along the advancement line.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1characterized in that the opening means comprises an opening bladehaving a cutting edge operative to cut the hide to create the openingcut in the hide in the hide along the advancement line.
 3. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the cutting edge of the opening blade extendsoutwardly from the clearing member and is located rearwardly of theleading extremity of the clearing member so that as the clearing memberand the opening blade advance and the clearing member separates the hidefrom subcutaneous tissues, the cutting edge of the opening blade cutsthe hide to open it along the advancement line.
 4. Apparatus as claimedin claim 3 wherein the cutting edge of the opening blade extendsoutwardly in a plane at right angles to the general plane of theclearing member and its leading extremity thereof, the cutting edge ofthe opening blade being included rearwardly relative to the advancementline.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the opening blade iswedge shaped in cross section with the point of the wedge shapeconstituting the cutting edge, the wedge shape of the opening bladecausing the edges of the hide immediately behind the cut to be forcedapart as the opening blade advances.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein the drive arrangement includes a mounting which mounts theclearing member and the opening means, the drive arrangement furtherincluding a guide which is arranged to be located in the vicinity of thecarcass and drive means for driving the mounting along the guide so asto cause the clearing member and opening means to travel along thelength of carcass.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the guidecomprises a guide track, the mounting including a track followeroperative to travel along the track so that the track follower in usemoves generally along the advancement line in proximity to the carcass.8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the mounting enables theclearing member and opening means to move towards and away from theguide track as movement along the advancement line occurs so as tothereby assist the clearing member and opening means to follow thecontour of the carcass.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein theleading extremity of the clearing member extends in use generallyparallel to the outside surface of the hide so as to promote separationof the hide from the subcutaneous tissues at the boundary between thehide and the tissues, the leading extremity of the clearing membertapering in a forward direction relative to the advancement line andtowards a nose portion of the leading extremity, the nose portion beingrounded in plain view to minimize the risk of the nose portionpenetrating into the subcutaneous tissues or penetrating into the hide.10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clearing membercomprises a clearing blade and the leading extremity comprises a leadingedge of the clearing blade which extends transverse to the advancementline and which penetrates the boundary between the hide and subcutaneoustissues so as to separate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues as theclearing blade advances, the separation of the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues occurring across a substantial width so as to cleara strip of hide which is cut by the opening means to form the edgeswhich are cleared from the subcutaneous tissues by sufficient width toenable clamping of the edges by the clamping means.
 11. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the clamping means is operative to hold thehide edges away from the subcutaneous tissues as the clearing member andopening means advance, the clamping means being operative to clampprogressively the hide edges at points along the hide edges as theclearing member and opening means are advanced.
 12. Apparatus foropening a carcass hide preparatory to removal of the hide from thecarcass, the apparatus including a clearing member which is operable tobe inserted between the hide and subcutaneous tissues and to be advancedalong an advancement line extending along a length of the carcass, theclearing member having a leading extremity extending transverse to theadvancement line and which is operative to separate the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues as it advances, the leading extremity of theclearing member comprising a cutting edge operative to sever connectionsbetween the hide and the subcutaneous tissues, the clearing memberhaving an inner face which is adjacent to the subcutaneous tissues andan outer face which is adjacent to the hide, the cutting edge beinglocated at or slightly below the outer face of the clearing member andthe leading extremity of the clearing member being bevelled from theinner face to the cutting edge, the apparatus further including anopening means located so as to trail behind the leading extremity of theclearing member as the clearing member is advanced along the advancementline, the opening means being operative to cut the hide to create anopening cut in the hide along the advancement line, the apparatusfurther including a drive arrangement associated with the clearingmember and the opening means and operative to advance the clearingmember and opening means along the carcass so that the clearing memberseparates the hide from the subcutaneous tissues and the opening meanscreates the opening cut in the hide along the advancement line. 13.Apparatus for opening a carcass hide preparatory to removal of the hidefrom the carcass, the apparatus including a clearing member which isoperable to be inserted between the hide and subcutaneous tissues and tobe advanced along an advancement line extending along a length of thecarcass, the clearing member having a leading extremity extendingtransverse to the advancement line and which is operative to separatethe hide from the subcutaneous tissues as it advances, the apparatusfurther including an opening means located so as to trail behind theleading extremity of the clearing member as the clearing member isadvanced along the advancement line, the opening means being operativeto cut the hide to create an opening cut in the hide along theadvancement line, the apparatus further including a drive arrangementassociated with the clearing member and the opening means and operativeto advance the clearing member and opening means along the carcass sothat the clearing member separates the hide from the subcutaneoustissues and the opening means creates the opening cut in the hide alongthe advancement line, the apparatus further including peeling meansoperative to peel the hide on both sides of the opening cut upwardly andoutwardly away from the opening cut thereby exposing the subcutaneoustissues, the opening means comprising an opening blade having a cuttingedge operative to cut the hide to create the opening cut, the openingmeans being operative to cut the hide to create an opening cut in thehide along the advancement line, the apparatus further including a drivearrangement associated with the clearing member and opening means andoperative to advance the clearing member and opening means along thecarcass so that the clearing member separates the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues and the opening means creates the opening cut inthe hide along the advancement line.
 14. Apparatus for opening a carcasshide preparatory to removal of the hide from the carcass, the apparatusincluding a clearing member which is operable to be inserted between thehide and subcutaneous tissues and to be advanced along an advancementline extending along a length of the carcass, the clearing member havinga leading extremity extending transverse to the advancement line andwhich is operative to separate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues asit advances, the apparatus further including an opening means located soas to trail behind the leading extremity of the clearing member as theclearing member is advanced along the advancement line, the openingmeans being operative to cut the hide to create an opening cut in thehide along the advancement line, the apparatus further including a drivearrangement associated with the clearing member and the opening meansand operative to advance the clearing member and opening means along thecarcass so that the clearing member separates the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues and the opening means creates the opening cut inthe hide along the advancement line, the drive arrangement including amounting which mounts the clearing member and the opening means, thedrive arrangement further including a guide which is arranged to belocated in the vicinity of the carcass and drive means for driving themounting along the guide so as to cause the clearing member and openingmeans to travel along the length of the carcass, the guide comprising aguide track, the mounting including a track follower operative to travelalong the track so that the track follower in use moves generally alongthe advancement line in proximity to the carcass, the mounting enablingthe clearing member and opening means to move towards and away from theguide track as movement along the advancement line occurs so as tothereby assist the clearing member and opening means to follow thecontour of the carcass, the mounting includes biasing means operative toapply a biasing force urging the clearing member and opening means awayfrom the carcass and towards the guide tack thereby assisting inseparating the hide from the subcutaneous tissues as the clearing memberadvances.
 15. Apparatus for opening a carcass hide preparatory toremoval of the hide from the carcass, the apparatus including a clearingmember which is operable to be inserted between the hide andsubcutaneous tissues and to be advanced along an advancement lineextending along a length of the carcass, the clearing member having aleading extremity extending transverse to the advancement line and whichis operative to separate the hide from the subcutaneous tissues as itadvances, the apparatus further including an opening means located so asto trail behind the leading extremity of the clearing member as theclearing member is advanced along the advancement line, the openingmeans being operative to cut the hide to create an opening cut in thehide along the advancement line, the apparatus further including a drivearrangement associated with the clearing member and the opening meansand operative to advance the clearing member and opening means along thecarcass so that the clearing member separates the hide from thesubcutaneous tissues and the opening means creates the opening cut inthe hide along the advancement line, the apparatus being operative tocut the hide of a carcass supported in an inverted position with thebelly of the carcass facing upwardly, the carcass having undergone anoperation of bagging and bunging the anus so as to leave a clearedopening in the hide, the apparatus being operative to commence the hideclearing and cutting at the cleared opening at the anus with theadvancement line extending along the belly, thorax and the neck of thecarcass, the apparatus further including rump lifting means operative toselectively elevate the rump of the carcass so as to present the clearedopening at the anus at the desired height for entry of the clearingmember through the cleared opening at the anus.